Methods and systems for identifying media assets

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that selects an identifier for a media asset based on an object corresponding to a user's point of progression in the media asset. For example, after determining the user's point of progression in the media asset and identifying an object corresponding to the user's point of progression in the media asset, the media guidance application may cross-reference a database listing objects in media asset identifiers for the media asset, select a media asset identifier from the media asset identifiers that includes the object, and generate for display the selected media asset identifier. The selected media asset identifier may be modified to graphically accentuate the object and enhance its visibility.

1 . A method for selecting identifiers for media assets, the method comprising:
 determining a user's point of progression in a media asset;   identifying an object corresponding to the user's point of progression in the media asset;   cross-referencing a database listing objects in media asset identifiers for the media asset to select a media asset identifier from the media asset identifiers that includes the object; and   generating for display the selected media asset identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving the media asset identifiers for the media asset;   determining each of the objects in each of the media asset identifiers; and   populating the database with each of the objects in each of the media asset identifiers for the media asset.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected media asset identifier comprises an image related to the media asset. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a location of the object within the selected media asset identifier; and   graphically accentuating the object in the selected media asset identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein graphically accentuating the object comprises altering an opaqueness level of the object relative to the selected media asset identifier. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein graphically accentuating the object comprises altering a brightness level of the object relative to the selected media asset identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user's point of progression identifies a current scene within the media asset or a current frame within the media asset, and wherein identifying the object corresponding to the user's point of progression in the media asset comprises identifying the object in the current scene or the current frame. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a character in the media asset. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting a default media asset identifier if the object is not found in the database. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of objects corresponding to the user's point of progression in the media asset; and   selecting objects to be cross-referenced from among the plurality of objects.   
     
     
         11 . A system for selecting identifiers for media assets, the system comprising:
 storage circuitry configured to store a database listing objects in media asset identifiers for a media asset; and   control circuitry configured to:
 determine a user's point of progression in the media asset; 
 identify an object corresponding to the user's point of progression in the media asset; 
 cross-reference the database listing the objects in media asset identifiers for the media asset to select a media asset identifier that includes the object; and 
 generate for display the selected media asset identifier. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 retrieve the media asset identifiers for the media asset;   determine each of the objects in each of the media asset identifiers; and   populate the database with each of the objects in each of the media asset identifiers for the media asset.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the selected media asset identifier comprises an image related to the media asset. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine a location of the object within the selected media asset identifier; and   graphically accentuate the object in the selected media asset identifier.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to graphically accentuate the object by altering an opaqueness level of the object relative to the selected media asset identifier. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein control circuitry is further configured to graphically accentuate the object by altering a brightness level of the object relative to the selected media asset identifier. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user's point of progression identifies a current scene within the media asset or a current frame within the media asset, and wherein the control circuitry configured to identify the object corresponding to the user's point of progression in the media asset is further configured to identify the object in the current scene or the current frame. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the object is a character in the media asset. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to select a default media asset identifier if the object is not found in the database. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 identify a plurality of objects corresponding to the user's point of progression in the media asset;   select objects to be cross-referenced from among the plurality of objects.   
     
     
         21 - 50 . (canceled)